Jammu, Sep 2: President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and former Union Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz Sunday said that no decision has been, as of now, over contesting next assembly or Urban Local Bodies elections in the state in alliance with coalition partner National Conference (NC).
 “As of now we have decided to have pre-poll alliance only for the upcoming Block Development Council polls and four seats of Upper House”, Soz told media persons at the sidelines of a public rally at Agore in Nagrota constituency today.
 He made it clear that the decision on forging the alliance for the Urban Local Bodies polls has not been taken yet by the Congress high command. “The Coordination Committee of Congress and National Conference coalition met yesterday and we decided to have an alliance for the BDC elections. The four seats of Legislative Council will also be contested in alliance but we have decided to meet again and the discussions will continue”, he said.
 The PCC chief said that it was too early to take any decision on contesting the next assembly elections in alliance with NC.
 Earlier, addressing the public gathering, Soz informed the people that the Congress-NC Coordination Committee had taken notice of the “urgency of holding Panchayat Elections at the Block level, elections to the four seats of Legislative Council from Panchayats and holding of Elections to the local bodies and these elections would be held as early as possible”.
 He said that the party was committed to the implementation of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in the state and in this regard process of consultation with the alliance party was going on.
 Soz said the party has taken notice of various issues, including the problems of refugees and displaced persons of various categories, problems of ex-servicemen, farmers and people living along the borders and near LoC and these problems would be solved on the principle of justice and equity.
 The Congress party recently took up these issues at the level of Prime Minister, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister SK Shinde, and urged for early solution, he added.
 Addressing the gathering, AICC Secretary and party incharge for Jammu and Kashmir Abdul Mannan Ansari lashed out at the BJP for their continued disruption of the parliamentary proceedings which he said was against the basic essence of democracy.
 He referred to the 73rd & 74th amendments of the Constitution and said that Late Rajiv Gandhi has empowered these PRIs in the country and people of state should enjoy the same powers in this state also.
 Earlier, Member Parliament Shri Madan Lal Sharma raised various issues of the refugees of West Pakistan and displaced persons of 1947, 1965 and 1971 and demanded time bound solution of their problems.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST